Pullach, Germany, 2 May 2012 – Linde Healthcare, a global business unit of The Linde Group, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Air Products' Continental-European homecare business following approval by the European Commission. The transaction comprises homecare operations in Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain which serve over 250,000 patients and include around 850 employees. With this acquisition Linde Healthcare becomes one of the leading European homecare providers, representing combined pro-forma sales of around EUR 390 million in Europe.

"Patients and professionals across Europe will benefit from this move as we can now deliver homecare activities on a truly European level, and therefore redefine how we provide products and services in this area," said Bo Dyrvold, Head of Linde Healthcare in Continental & Northern Europe. "In the meantime, we want to reassure everyone receiving Linde Healthcare or Air Products' homecare services that we will continue to serve you as before, with all services, all appointments and all points of contact remaining unchanged over the transition period."

The newly acquired business brings additional services and technologies which provide the physician with up-to-date information about a patient’s response to therapy. This greatly improves the ability of the doctor to monitor and customize treatment, enhancing the doctor-patient relationship.

"We believe that being able to offer first class respiratory treatment in the home will be increasingly important to healthcare providers across Europe, and we aim to be their first choice partner," said Mr Dyrvold. "This acquisition is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the future of chronic patient management in the home. We are excited to welcome our new colleagues, and look forward to continuing to provide the highest levels of service, safety and security to our patients and customers."

Healthcare is one of The Linde Group’s three strategic growth pillars. Globally, Linde is now well positioned to leverage the scale of its homecare business, continue to drive innovation and develop new services. The homecare business is a structural growth market, benefiting from a global trend towards treating stable chronic patients outside the costly hospital environment, both to improve the quality of patient life and to reduce healthcare costs.

About Linde Healthcare Linde Healthcare is a global business unit of The Linde Group. It is present in over 50 countries, and has been extensively involved in the development of therapies and diagnostic procedures, where gases, gas technology or gas competence is needed. In surgeries, emergency services, intensive care, clinics and home care, the company offers a broad spectrum of products and services to effectively support medical practitioners and their patients. Linde Healthcare co-operates with researchers in hospitals and universities as well as a global network of physicians, clinicians and technicians working on the frontlines.

About The Linde Group The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,500 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 13.787 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The Group is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

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